Process of and machine for removing combustible coveringr



C A. NELSON.

PROCS$ OF AND MACHINE FOR REMOVING COMBUSTIBLE CDVERINGS- APFLlCATiON mmMAR 2, 1911.

1 3 5 1 1 86 Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

' UNITED STATES r raur OFFICE.

CARL A. NELSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ABSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEGI'BICCOMPANY,

INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF AND MACHINE FOR REMOVING COMBUS'IIBLE COVERING" was:

""' Specification of Letters latent.

Application flied March 2, 1917. Serial N0. 152,018.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ,CARL A. NELSON,I a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of andMachines for Removin Combustible Coverings, of which the foT lowing is afull, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved )rocess of and machine forremoving comustible coverings, and more particularly to a machine ofthis kind for stripping insulation from the ends of insulated conductorsand the like.

One of the objects of this invention resides in an improved process ofand machine for removin a combustible covering from a non-com ustiblearticle.

Another object ofthc invention consists in an improved machine forstripping insulation from the end of a conductor by first burning agroove or slot around the insulation covering and then stripping thesevered insulation end from said conductor.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription and the appended claims.

he preferred embodiment of the invention herein illustrated anddescribed consists of a machine for removing the insulation coveringfrom insulated cords,v wires, etc, said insulation consisting of mycombustible matter, preferably cotton, S] k, or rubber, or anycombination thereof. In the operation of the machine a strip ofmetal'having a high electrical resistance is electrically heated andrevolved about the insulation covering of the cord or wire whereby agroove or slot is burned in said covering and the insulation severed atthis slot. The sevcred portion of the insulation is then readilystripped from the conductor.

According to the old method, insulation of this character was removedfrom conductors by severing the insulation covering by means of a knifeor any other sharpened edge and then stripping the insulation from theconductor. This method had two distinct disadvantages. First, theer'ator in cutting the insulation would very requently cut into theconductor, thereby nickin the same; and second; when a cottdir-or silinsulation coverin was thus severed, theends thereof were quite likelyto unravel and the frayed ends of this insulation frequent! interferedwith subsequent operations, sucii iii soldering of the conductor properand the When the insulation is removed in accordance with this inventionthese difliculties are entirely eliminated and furthermore, the rate atwhich the insulation can be removed from the conductors is very creased,thereby greatly increasing the efficiency of this operation and reducingthe cost thereof.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment hereindescribed, but may be used whenever it is desired to remove from anon-combustible article a combustible coating with which said article iscovered.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a. front elevation of the complete machine;

ig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged illustration of the burning element and itsassociated mechamsm;

Fig. 4 is a section illustrating the method of mounting the currentconducting disks;

Fig. 5 illustrates the position of the burnmg element as it is forcedthrough the insu ation on the wire, and

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating the circuit connections.

The apparatus consists of a base 10 on which is mounted the upright 11which supports a bearing 12 in which is journaled the shaft or spindle13. Mounted on one end of the spindle is a puiley wheel 14, by means ofwhich the shaft 13 may be rotated, and on the other end of said shaft ismounted the insulatin disk 15 which carries the current conducting rings16 and 17. The shaft 13 is fitted with a central bore in which isslidably mounted the rod 18 which carries 'the adjustment nut 19.

Secured to the base 10 is the block 20 composed ofany suitableinsulating material in which are mounted the current conducting strips21 and 22 to which are secured the brushes 23 and 24 respectively whichcontact with the current conducting rin s 16 and 17 respectivel Mountedon sai disk 15 by means of t e nut 25 is the rod 26 composed of amaterial having good electrical conductivity, such as copper, to

materially inwhich is pivotell secured by means of the screw 27 the for28. Secured to the ends of the pro of the fork 28'bymeans of the screws29 a d 30 and spanning the distance between said l orongs is a strip-ofhigh re 31 composed preferably of sistlmce meta platinum,,nicrome, orthe like;

Integral with the fork'QS and extending at stfiistant/lally right anglesthereto is the triangular ht 32 which contacts with one end of thee li"able rod 1,8 and which serves to mOWZQrSiLld for about its pivot 27 whenthe rod 15, is disp accd toward he left, the fork and rodbeing returnedto their nor-t 'mal osition by a s iral spring 33 one end of w ioh 15secured; t6 the disk lh and the othe end hereof to the fork 28. Theprong 34 ol the r]: it in'metallic contact with the herens the prong 35of said fork istinsu atoll from said ro'djand from the prong 34, AThei-prong 34 is in electrical connection with the current conductingring 17 by 11165115 (If the rod 26 and the conducti ng plate '36connected to" said ring; and the ring; 16 by means device 39 whichis'fitted pron 35 connected to the conducting of the condiicting sprlng37. 4

An upri ht 38' is mounted on the stand ard 10 to t to left of theupright 11 and the block 20. This upright supports a clamping with aconical move 40, the centerof which is in alincment with the axis of therotating shaft 123, the clampingdevice being so mounted that when thefork 28 is displaced by the rod 18, the hi h resistancecondnctor 31 willjust clea'r t e inner surface of said clamping device wh ensaid highresistance strip 31 inter' sects the common axis of the shaft 13 andthe-vconical groove of the clamping device.

The clamping device is composed of two iiws, a stationary jaw 41, and amovable law-42 which is pivotally mounted by a screw 48 seem-area thelower portion of the olaimfiing device 39. A handle 44 integral with themoralile jaw 42 is used to displace this "aw from normal, the jaw beingrcthril el te i'thdfihal poeitiu by the spring I "45? The wire 52, fromwhich the insula- 66 and 1.9 are connected to the coinlncting tion is tobereinovedj is placed in a conical groti rehetwen the jaws 41 and 42 ofthe (alarming-device from the inner face oi whit? a length-47 projectsfrom which the insulation is to be removed. The wire is held in thisposition by the straddling action of'thc Said jaws whereby the reduced"circumferential wall of said conical groove "ps said wire.

are the shields and 56 which constitute sidaprotertin'g walls for'theclamplng devie'e aiidethe forward endof therotating fQyk mad tlnls servetoprotect theoperator (against accidents. 1 I l Heavy current carrying-.comlut;tors -t8\ second slip ring 17.

ment 31.

Secured to the upright 38 i Y stri s 21 and 22 respectively, and theseCODC uctors are connected in a serial circuit with a rheostat (it! and abatterv 51, or am- .other suitable current gcucratin tlcvich Ae shown inthe circuit diagram. 1* ig. 0. ll Y conductors 48 and 49 connect withthe shy rin s 16 and 17 respectively, the slip 16 eing connected throughthe rod 21'] ann the prong 34 to one (Hill of the rtsislancc wire 31;the other end of said ltflhlnll wire being connected to the conductingstrip 37, which is in turn connected to llllv C nsequently whcn (liemovable member of the rhcostat is adjlwtcd to c lose the circuit,current will llow from the battery 51 through said rheostat to the wire48, and thence throm h tho currcnt conducting ring 16. the PM: 20, theprong 34, the resistance wire 31, the conducting: strip and finally byway of the conductjug ring 17 and the contluctor49 hack to.

the other side of battery. By suitably I'lll' justingthemovahle memberof the rhco stat thc current flowing in this circuit can be adjusted soas to obtain any (lthllttl dcgree of heat in the resistance strip 31.

Tu the operation of the machine. thc ml justmcnt nut 19 on the slidalilcrod 18 is first adjusted so as to give thc dcsircd amount of throw forthe fork 135%. The circuit of the iheostat is then cloasd and the(m'rcnt adjuetcd for the desircdamonnt of heat. after which the Wire isplaced in the conical groove in the clamping device with the wire fromwhich the insulation is to he removed extending from the inner surfaceof said clamping device. The shaft 1 is then rotated in any suitablemanner, pref-- erably by a belt attached to the uzlley 14. whichrotation will carry with it the fork 28 with its associated heat-edresistance cle- While the fork is rotating. the slidable rod is moved tothe left and the heated element ill will impinge on the sur face of theinsulated conductor and burn a circular groove in the circumferencethereof, the adjustment nut 19 being so placed on the rod 18 at the fork28 will more through a (llntllh c which will be sul'llcient to cause.the heated mt. rr 31V to burn through the insulation coveringpand not inany way afi'ect the conductor 52.

'hen the heated clement ill has made sci oral revolutions about theinsulated condor same from fluid-clamping device in allircction'snliatnntially at right angles thereto. in this-operationtlic naall circular opening 4 in the inner end of said conical groove,due-lo the tension cxcrtml lyv the spring; 45,

will inclose the conductor 52, exposed by the circular slot burned inthe insulation, and consequently as the wire is withdrawn from theclamping. device, the inner face thcrcoi', due to this encircling of theconductor :72, will strip the severed end of the insulation from the endof said conductor. When the wire has thus been removed, another lengththereof is inserted in position in the clamping device and the above described operation is repeated.

The herein described method of removing insulation from wires and theimproved machine for accomplishing the same is exceedingly beneficial,because the burning of the insulation results in a nice smooth even cutof said insulation and consequently does not expose any frayed ends.Likewise, as the movement of the burning member can be r :adilyadjusted. there is no danger of injuring the conductor due to contactbetween the conductor and said burning member. Further. since theoperation of removing the insulation consists merely in clamping thewire into position and then advancing the burning member. after whichthe wire can be withdrawn with the insulation removed, the opt-ration isexceedingly rapid and very (lll lt'lll.

()bviously the invention is not limited to the specific embodimentthereof which is -"rein illustrated and described, but is capaole ofmany variations and applications without departing from its spirit andscope, as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. in a device of the character described, in combination. a rotatablemember, means for heating said member, and means for deflecting saidmember whereby it will imping-c upon the surface of a combustibly coatedarticle and burn a circumferential slot in Saltl coating.

2. In a device of the character described in combination, an articleholding means, a rotatable member, means for heating said member. andmeans for deflecting said mem ber whereby it will impinge jpdn thesurface of a combustibly coated a, lefheld in said means and burn a cirrential groove in said coating. a

3. A device of the character. described comprising in combination, meansto hold a r,.'on'1bust bly coated article whereby a short end thereofwill protrude from oneside of said means, a rotatable member, means forheating said mcn'iber, and means for defleeting said member whereby itwill impinge upon the said protruding combustible surface of saidarticle and burn a circumfcrential groove in said coating.

4. A device of the character described (fUITlPl'lSlTlg in combination;straddling moans serving to hold a combustiblv coated article, arotatable member, means for heating said member, and means fordeflecting said member whereby it will impinge upon a protruding end 0said article and burn a circumferential groove in said coatin 5. In adevice of the character described in combination, a rotatable member,means for heating said member, means for deflecting said member, andadjusting means for regulating the amount of said deflection, saidmember when deflected contacting with the surface of a combustiblycoated article and thereby severing the continuity of said coating.

6. In a device of the character described in combination, a rotatablespindle, an insulating disk secured to said spindle current conductingrings mounted on sai disk, means pivotally secured to one face of saiddisk, a current carrying conductor associated with said means, currentconducting means connecting said rings and said conductor, a source ofcurrent supply, straddling means for holding a combustibly coatedarticle, and means to force said current carrying conductor against thecombustible surface of a protruding end of said article whereby acircumferential groove will be burned in said coating.

7. In a device of the character described in combination, a rotatablespindle,.an insulating disk secured to said spindle, current conductingrings mounted on said disk, means pivotally secured to one face of soiddisk, a current carrying conductor associated with said means, currentconducting means connected with said rings and said conductor, a sourceof current supply, article holding means comprising a yielding memberwhich clamps said article in a fixed position and with a protruding endto be operated on, means to force said current oarryin conductor againsta combustible surface 0 said protrudin end whereby a circumferentialgroove wi 1 be burned in said coating and whereby when the article iswithdrawn from said holding means said protruding coating which extendsbeyond said groove is removed by said holding means,

8. In an insulating stripp' ganechine, combination, a rotatable mom I, mheatin said member, means fdir holding a wire mm which the insulation isto be stripped, means for deflecting mid member so it will contact withthe insulated surface of said wire and burn a circumferential slot insaid insulation, and means whereby the severed insulation will bestripped from said wire when it is withdrawn from said holding means.

9. In a device of the character described in combination, a rotatablemember. electric means for heating said member, and means for deflectingsaid member whereby it will impinge upon the surface of an inflammablycoated article and burn a circumferential groove in said coating.

l The process of-rcnioving a combustible covering from a noncombustiblearticle, which consists in burning; a circumferential groove'i-n saidcoating thereby severing the continuity of said coating, and thenstripping the severed coating from said article.

11. The process of removing a combustible covering from ahon-combustible article, which consists in burning a circumferentialfltXDG in said. ooatin by an electrically heated conductor there ytinuity of said coating, and then stripping the severed coating fromsaid article.

" 12. The proccssof removing a combustible covering frdm anon-combustible article, which consists in burning a circumferentialgroove in said coating by a rotating heated member thereby severing; thecontinuity of said coating, and then stripping the severed 20 coating,from said article.

severing the con- 13. The process of removing a combustible coveringfrom a non-combustible article, which consists in burning acircumferential groove in said coating by rotating an electricallyheated conductor and thereby severing the continuity of said coating,and then the severed coating mom said stripping article.

14. The process of removing a combustible cowering from anon-combustible article, which consists in holding yielding contactingmember, burning a C1! cunifcrential groove in said coating, and then'ithdrawing said article from said holding member and stripping saidcoating from said article by the action of said yielding member. 7

In witness whereof l hereunto subscribe my name this 22nd day of Fell,A. D. 1917. CARL A. NELSON.

said article with a

